Former unified heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua is gearing up to throw down with MMA powerhouse Francis Ngannou in a boxing fight this March in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This juicy tidbit was confirmed by Ariel Helwani being the first to spill the beans and Eddy Hearn making it official yesterday.
We’re talking a 10-round spectacle here.
Ngannou, the ex-UFC heavyweight king who jumped ship to the Professional Fighters League last year, isn’t a stranger to the boxing ring. He made heads turn in his pro boxing debut against WBC heavyweight champ Tyson Fury last October. In a move that left the combat sports crowd slack-jawed, he sent Fury crashing to the canvas in the third round. The fight ended in a nail-biting split decision loss for Ngannou, a verdict that had some fans thinking he should’ve had his hand raised.
Known as perhaps the most fearsome knockout artist in MMA history, Ngannou left the UFC behind amid a storm of contract squabbles, frustrated over not being able to step into the boxing ring – a dream that the PFL has made a reality for him. This Cameroonian titan has a resume of MMA knockouts that reads like a who’s who of former champs – Andrei Arlovski, Alistair Overeem, Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos, and Stipe Miocic, just to name a few.
Joshua once held the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO belts snugly around his waist. But then he hit a rough patch, dropping fights twice to current champ Oleksandr Usyk in September 2021 and August 2022. Since then, he’s been on a tear, notching three straight wins against Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, and, most recently, a commanding fifth-round finish over Otto Wallin this past December, catapulting him right back into the title conversation.
What Are The Odds Of Joshua Winning The Fight?
These Joshua Ngannou odds are straight from the horse’s mouth at BetOnline www.BetOnline.ag, or their Twitter: @betonline_ag).
Francis Ngannou put on quite the show in the ring with Tyson Fury last October. Seemed like he did more than just throw punches – he caught some big fish’s eye.
Guess what? He’s landed himself another headline fight, this time with none other than the ex-heavyweight champ, Anthony Joshua. Word on the street (well, officially on Friday night) is they’re going to duke it out in Saudi Arabia. Keep your ears open for the press conference on January 15 – that’s when they spill the beans on when this showdown happens.
BetOnline’s not wasting any time. They’ve already whipped up odds for this clash. Joshua’s the favorite – not as overwhelmingly as Fury was, but still the guy to bet on, apparently. The numbers are hopping around like a boxer on his toes.
Here’s the lowdown on the fight odds:
Anthony Joshua -500 (1/5) Francis Ngannou +325 (13/4)
Originally, the odds opened with Joshua at -275 (4/11) and Ngannou at +215 (43/20). But it looks like everyone’s throwing their wallets behind Joshua early on.
Francis Ngannou, the Cameroonian colossus of the MMA world, thundered his way through the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s heavyweight division. Known for turning his opponents’ lights out with his Herculean power, he’s the boogeyman every heavyweight whispers about before bedtime.
Ngannou’s saga reads like an action-packed blockbuster. From the tough streets of Cameroon to the bright lights of France, he swapped his hard-knocks life for a pair of boxing gloves, then leaped into the MMA cage. In the UFC, he wasn’t just making an entrance; he was detonating like a human grenade, leaving a trail of starstruck (and occasionally unconscious) heavyweights in his wake.
His ascent to the UFC heavyweight throne wasn’t just a series of fights; it was a seismic event. Ngannou wasn’t just punching faces; he was rewriting his destiny, turning his once-distant dreams into a fist-fueled reality.
On the other side of the pond, Anthony Joshua, the UK’s knockout king, carved his name in the boxing annals. Born to throw thunderbolts with his fists, Joshua’s journey from Watford to worldwide wonder began with Olympic gold that shone as bright as his future.
Joshua’s bouts are not mere fights; they’re spectacles, drawing crowds as if he were the pied piper of pugilism. Beyond the glitz, glamour, and gold belts, Joshua stands as a beacon of hope, juggling his fame with grace and a heart that beats for charity.
For the real-time odds that could flip faster than a pancake, check the bottom of this page: https://www.betonline.ag/sportsbook/boxing/bouts/bouts.”